China's exports of vehicles grew by 232.2 percent year-on-year to reach US$239 million in the first eight months of this year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

This included US$18.52 million from sedans, US$8.46 million from off-road vehicles, US$9.29 million from minibuses, US$28.73 million from buses, US$76 million from trucks, and US$83.82 million from special-purpose vehicles.

Automotive products have become a major part of China's exportsof machinery and electrical goods.

In addition to complete vehicles, China in the same period exported auto parts valued at US$2.74 billion, of which US$2.3 billion from parts and accessories and US$404 million from key components.

China produced 2.728 million vehicles, up 36 percent year-on-year, and imported a record US$9.3 billion in automotive products, up 94.7 percent year-on-year, in the first eight months of this year.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2003)